Synthesis and characterisation of carbon supported gold catalysts prepared by ion-exchange
Master Thesis
2008
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
Gold has been previously overlooked as a catalyst, mainly because the metal has been regarded as catalytically inert, and was tested as large aggregates, and not as nanocrystallites. Large crystallites of gold do not exhibit significant catalytic activity, and if they do, their activity is small compared with platinum group metals. The recent interest in gold as a catalyst has been fuelled by the development of processes to deposit gold on a catalyst support as nano-crystallites (Prati and Martra, 1999). Gold catalysts with nano-crystallites on selected supports have been shown to exhibit high activity for mainly redox reactions (Gluhoi, 2005; Hutchings, 2005). These catalysts have recently been attracting attention as they can be used at near ambient conditions, which allows for cheaper and more environmentally friendly processes. Glucose yielding gluconic acid is an industrially important reaction (Biella et aI., 2002). Gluconic acid and its salts are used as water-soluble cleansing agents or as additives in food and beverages which makes these products important in industrial applications (Kirk-Othmer, 1995). Industrially, the aerobic oxidation of glucose is an enzyme catalysed process. However, due to the low productivity of the glucose fermentation process, the development of a chemical route is of interest. Gold catalysis provides a promising alternative route which can be applied at mild conditions.
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Includes abstract.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-97).
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Beeming, B. 2008. Synthesis and characterisation of carbon supported gold catalysts prepared by ion-exchange. University of Cape Town.